Chinese military says US destroyer, Canadian frigate transited Taiwan Straits

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) – The Chinese military said that it tracked and monitored a US destroyer and a Canadian frigate transiting the Taiwan Straits, state-run media reported on Thursday.

“PLA (People's Liberation Army) Eastern Theater Command on Wednesday tracked and monitored a US destroyer and a Canadian frigate through the entire course and dealt with them lawfully as they transited the Taiwan Straits,” daily Global Times reported, citing the military spokesperson.

The US 7th Fleet, in a statement, also confirmed that Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341) conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit.

"The ships transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State," it said in a statement, published on its website.

Last week, the Chinese military accused Washington of infringement and provocation by its warship.

"We all know that all the close encounters between Chinese and US aircraft and warships were all in the waters and airspace around China, not in the Gulf of Mexico or on the West Coast of America," said the Chinese military in a statement last week.

"It was the US side that came to China's doorstep to provoke and stir up troubles," it further said.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid